Changes in seminal plasma microecological dynamics and the mechanistic impact of core metabolite hexadecanamide in asthenozoospermia patients.

Asthenozoospermia (AZS) is a prevalent contributor to male infertility, characterized by a substantial decline in sperm motility. In recent years, large-scale studies have explored the interplay between the male reproductive system's microecology and its implications for reproductive health. Nevertheless, the direct association between seminal microecology and male infertility pathogenesis remains inconclusive. This study used 16S rDNA sequencing and multi-omics analysis to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the seminal microbial community and metabolites in AZS patients. Patients were categorized into four distinct groups: Normal, mild AZS (AZS-I), moderate AZS (AZS-II), and severe AZS (AZS-III). Microbiome differential abundance analysis revealed significant differences in microbial composition and metabolite profiles within the seminal plasma of these groups. Subsequently, patients were classified into a control group (Normal and AZS-I) and an AZS group (AZS-II and AZS-III). Correlation and cross-reference analyses identified distinct microbial genera and metabolites. Notably, the AZS group exhibited a reduced abundance of bacterial genera such as Pseudomonas, Serratia, and Methylobacterium-Methylorubrum in seminal plasma, positively correlating with core differential metabolite (hexadecanamide). Conversely, the AZS group displayed an increased abundance of bacterial genera such as Uruburuella, Vibrio, and Pseudoalteromonas, with a negative correlation with core differential metabolite (hexadecanamide). In vitro and in vivo experiments validated that hexadecanamide significantly enhanced sperm motility. Using predictive metabolite-targeting gene analysis and single-cell transcriptome sequencing, we profiled the gene expression of candidate target genes PAOX and CA2. Protein immunoblotting techniques validated the upregulation protein levels of PAOX and CA2 in sperm samples after hexadecanamide treatment, enhancing sperm motility. In conclusion, this study uncovered a significant correlation between six microbial genera in seminal plasma and the content of the metabolite hexadecanamide, which is related to AZS. Hexadecanamide notably enhances sperm motility, suggesting its potential integration into clinical strategies for managing AZS, providing a foundational framework for diagnostic and therapeutic advancements.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: a possible choice for patients with resistant thin endometrium during frozen embryo transfer treatments.

BACKGROUND: Thin endometrium is considered suboptimal for embryo implantation, leading to compromised pregnancy rates without effective therapies. While some studies have reported promoted endometrial growth after a period of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in patients with intrauterine adhesion, there have been no reports in patients with resistant thin endometrium. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of HBOT on endometrium growth and pregnancy outcomes in patients with resistant thin endometrium during frozen embryo transfer (FET) treatments. METHODS: This prospective pre-post cohort study was conducted at a university-affiliated assisted reproductive medical center between October 2021 and December 2022. Patients who had experienced at least one canceled transfer cycle due to a thin endometrium(< 7 mm) on the endometrium transformation day, despite the use of standard therapies as well as adjuvant therapies, were enrolled in the study. Patients were assigned voluntarily to either the HBOT group or the concurrent control group. The HBOT group received daily HBOT for at least 10 days during the proliferative phase, in addition to the routine endometrium preparation methods and the concurrent control group underwent cycles without HBOT. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to ensure comparability between the groups. Both self-control and case-control comparisons were conducted. The primary outcome measured was endometrial thickness (ET) on the day of endometrium transformation. Secondary outcomes included intrauterine pregnancy rate (IPR), embryo implantation rate (IR), miscarriage rate, and others. RESULTS: Patients in the HBOT group demonstrated a significantly thicker endometrial thickness on the day of endometrium transformation after undergoing therapy (5.76 ± 1.66 vs. 6.57 ± 1.23, P = 0.002). This improvement was accompanied by a decreased rate of cycle cancellations. Baseline parameters and endometrial thickness were comparable between the HBOT group and the concurrent control group during the cycle. The IPR was similar in patients who received cleavage-stage embryos (0.0% vs. 6.7%, P = 1.00), but significantly higher in patients in the HBOT group who received blastocysts (53.8% vs. 18.2%, P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: A period of HBOT prior to endometrium transformation contributes to increased endometrial thickness and facilitates blastocyst implantation in patients with resistant thin endometrium during FET treatments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration no. ChiCTR2300072831, retrospectively registered).

Anti-inflammatory Meroterpenoids from Baeckea frutescens.

Frutescones H-R (1-11), new sesqui- or monoterpene-based meroterpenoids, were isolated from the aerial parts of Baeckea frutescens. Their structures and absolute configurations were established by means of spectroscopic analyses (HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD), as well as single-crystal X-ray crystallography of 1, (-)-7, and 9. The anti-inflammatory activities of all isolates were evaluated by measuring their inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, and the structure-activity relationships of 1-11 are also discussed. Compound 8 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50 value of 0.36 µM, which might be related to the regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway via the suppression of p65 nuclear translocation and the consequent decrease of IL-6 and TNF-α.

Frutescone A-G, Tasmanone-Based Meroterpenoids from the aerial parts of Baeckea frutescens.

Frutescone A-G [(1-6), (+)-7, (-)-7], a new group of naturally occurring tasmanone-based meroterpenoids, were isolated from the aerial parts of Baeckea frutescens L. Compounds 1 and 4 featured a rare carbon skeleton with an unprecedented oxa-spiro[5.8] tetradecadiene ring system, existing as two favored equilibrating conformers in CDCl3 solution, identified by variable-temperature NMR. The regioselective syntheses of 4-7 were achieved in a concise manner by a biomimetically inspired key hetero-Diels-Alder reaction "on water". Compounds 1, 4, and 5 exhibited moderate cytotoxicities in vitro.

[Prognostic value of assay of brain natriuretic peptide in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prognostic value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: Eighty-six patients with ARDS who had normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), from January 2004 to May 2009, were studied retrospectively. The baseline characteristics of the patients were recorded. The plasma concentration of BNP and Murray lung injury score (LIS) of the patients with their outcomes, and the relationship between the BNP concentration and LIS were analyzed. The prediction results of death and survival of patients using the cut off points of concentration of BNP and LIS were also analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients were diagnosed as ARDS.Among those patients with ARDS, 55 patients were dead and 31 patients were survival in 14 days. The proportion of pulmonary hypertension (25.8% vs. 72.7%) and that of using large dose of intravenous norepinephrine (38.7% vs. 94.5%), the time without using mechanical ventilation in 14 days [(8.63+/-3.26) days vs. (0.38+/-0.02) days], BNP concentration [(179.5+/-84.5) ng/L vs. (550.8+/-337.1) ng/L] and LIS (1.37+/-0.65 vs. 2.29+/-0.46) differed significantly between the survivors and the nonsurvivors (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The plasma concentration of BNP had a significant correlation with LIS (r=0.786, P<0.001). By using the threshold value of 329.5 ng/L for BNP, the specificity for the prediction of mortality was 96.8%. The threshold value for LIS of 1.875 showed sensitivity of 80.0%. CONCLUSION: BNP concentration and LIS were significantly elevated in nonsurvivors than survivors in patients with ARDS who have normal LVEF. High BNP level can predict mortality.